gallegos



(No Model.) r

J. GALLEGOS.

BACK BRAGE.

PatentedNov. 27, 1894.

l ig/ WITNESSES: nvyEA/mfi W Y W m: uonms Ptrifls ca, Paofautua. WASHINGTON. 6' c4 PATENT JOSE GALLEGOS, or ooos, GUATEMALA.

BACK-BRACE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,038, dated November 27, 1894.

Application filed January 13, 1894. Serial No- 496,754=- (No model.)

To 01/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSE GALLEGOS, a citizen of the Republic of Guatemala, and a resident of 006s, Guatemala, Central America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braces or Supports, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to a braceor support intended especially for the use of workmen, and the object of the invention is to facilitate the exertion of various muscular efforts, and also to enable a person to carry greater loads than he could transport without the help of such an artificial appliance.

The invention consists of certain details, and combinations of the same, as will be fully disclosed hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

I will now proceed to describe the preferred form of my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a back support embodying my improvements.

Figure 1 is a front View of the support applied. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side View thereof.

Like letters and numerals denote corresponding parts in all the Views.

The back support primarily comprises an articulated spine bar or rod A, which consists of narrow plates or strips 10 connected through the medium of links 11. The plates or bars preferably are somewhat flexible yet sufficiently strong to afford an efficient support for-the body. On each side of the spine rod A, are located similar articulated bars designated as B and C respectively, and a like bar D, adapted to partly fit around the waist, extends from the lower end of the spine rod A to the lower ends of the lateral bars B and respectively. It will be understood that the bars B, O and D consist, like the spine bar A, of comparatively stilt or rigid sections connected by links 11.

The side bars B and C are united with the waist bar D through the medium of connecting plates 12 which are capable of sliding so as to permit the wearer of the support to move about easily and to hold his body in proper position when he is carrying, pushing, or lifting a weight, or exerting any other effort. In order to impart greater mobility to the side bars in relation to the waist bar, links 13 of considerable flexibility are used for uniting thelower ends of the side bars B and C respectively with the connecting plates 12.

The upper ends of the lateral bars B, G, and of the spine bar A have an adjustable connection, preferably by means of plates or straps 14: capable of being detachably fastened to each other by means of buttons, as shown, or of buckles, set-screws, or equivalent devices. It will be understood that this arrangementpermits ofadjusting the vest to the stature of the wearer, the lateral bars with the connecting plates 1e forming, as it or straps are adapted to be adjustably connected, at the front, thatis, opposite the spine bar A, by means of buckles 16 or equivalent fastening devices. It is preferable that the material for the linings should be not only flexible, but elastic. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the linings 15 are arranged longitudinally on both sides of each bar, and that the said linings encircle the body. It will be seen that the support can be readily put on or taken off, and easily adjusted. It will be further obvious that the wearer of the support will have perfect freedom in his movements, owing to the fact that the spine bar A, the side bars B, G, and the waist bar D are constructed of articulated sections connected by means of links, which construction not only permits each section to turn in any direction relatively to the adjacent section, but allows for a limited longitudinal sliding movement of the sections in relation to each other. The support will enable the wearer to exert considerable muscular efiorts without any excessive strain, and will also assist the wearer in carrying loads, the spine bar A and lateral bars B, C, being adapted to receive a part of-the weight which otherwise would be supported by the spine alone. The elastic parts of the support will ICC likewise materially aid the wearer in his efv forts. It will be understood that a leg support, an arm support, or a complete body support, may be made in an analogous man' nor to that above described.

I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings, as the details of the support may be considerably varied Without departing from the nature of my invention.

It will be obvious that a garment such as above described may be successfully employed for persons suffering from muscular debility or similar weakness.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A support for the purpose described, comprising a bar composed of longitudinally aligning comparatively rigid sections, links loosely connecting the adjacent ends of said sections with one another so that the sec tions are capable of a limited free sliding movement in relation to each other, and flexible portions secured to the said bar and extending longitudinally on each side thereof, said flexible portions being adapted to encircle the Wearers body, substantially as described.

2. A back support, provided with a spine bar, side bars essentially parallel therewith, a waist bar uniting the spine bar with the side bars each of the said bars being composed of longitudinally aligning sections loosely con nected with one another, and flexible portions connected with the said bars and adapted to be detachably fastened to each other, substantially as set forth.

3. A back support, coinprisinga spine bar, side bars, means for adjustably connecting the upper ends of all the said bars, a waist bar uniting the lower ends of the spine bar and the side bars respectively each of the said bars being composed of longitudinally aligning sections loosely connected with one another, and elastic portions connected with the said bars and adapted to be adjustably and detachably fastened to each other, substantially as described.

4. A back support, comprising a spine bar, side bars, means for adjustably connecting the upper ends of all the said bars, a.waist bar secured to the lower end of the spine bar and extending transversely therefrom, each of the said bars being composed of longitudinally aligning sections loosely connected with one another flexible links uniting the lower ends of the side bars with the said waist bar, and elastic portions connected with the said bars and adapted to be adjustably and detachably fastened to each other, substantially as described.

JosE GALLEGOS. Witnesses:

MANUEL SAMAYOA RUBIo, SANTIAGO VARGAs. 

